Get to Know Mutual Fund Families
MEET THE FAM: A fund family is a mutual fund company that offers a variety of mutual funds: stock, money market, bond, and so on. Before you sign up with a particular fund family, here are some issues you should consider.

Risk and Reward in Mutual Fund Investing
FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM: Investing in mutual funds and common stocks has its risks and rewards. Generally speaking, when investing in mutual funds, risk and reward are directly related. Here’s how to balance both.

Think Through Mutual Fund Investment Objectives, Styles
KNOW YOUR FUND’S M.O.: Every mutual fund has an investment objective that spells out its goals. The objective states what investing style the fund’s manager pursues and how he or she intends to carry out that objective.

Understand Mutual Fund Listings
CRACK THE CODE: Information about your mutual fund’s daily performance is available from many sources, including some daily newspapers, financial websites, and your fund company’s website. When you are looking at listings, it’s important to understand what the potentially confusing terms mean. Here are the key terms you’ll need to know.

Explore Mutual Fund Documents
TAKE STOCK OF YOUR DOCS: Mutual fund companies generate lots of paperwork, which means it's important to stay organized. Whether you use a manual or computerized system, keep your records up-to-date and in a location that is easy to find.

What is a Mutual Fund?
MUTUAL FUNDS FOR BEGINNERS: If you’re new to the world of investing, a mutual fund could be a good option to start with. Get familiar with the characteristics, structure, and pros and cons of this type of investment.

Putting Off Saving for Retirement Could Cost You
SAVE NOW, BENEFIT LATER: Retirement seems like it’s a lifetime away, so why worry about it now, right? You figure there’s plenty of time down the road for thinking about planning and saving. Well, sure—time is on your side. But there’s a paradox—it turns out that time’s on your side only if you start saving soon.